Module manager: Chris Birchall
Email: c.t.birchall@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
COMM2735 Dynamic Web Programming
This module is not approved as a discovery module
The module provides the opportunity to engage with the practice of programming and explore its impacts, such as the opportunities and challenges presented by the role of code and data in digital media. Students will experiment with different programming languages, platforms, and technologies and use them to create different outputs, generate and use data in different ways and reflect on the opportunities for creative production, digital media and digital research afforded by programming and data. We will also explore how leading academic theory and research can influence digital products and platforms and the module provides opportunities to look at developing digital media solutions to address the demands of user groups and society at large, allowing students to take their work beyond technical exercises to work that can solve problems, improve services and create social capital.
This module aims to highlight contemporary challenges and opportunities in digital media practice with regard to emerging cultural and social trends and looks at practical ways to meet them. It aims to develop a basic understanding of computer programming, to enable critical reflections on the way that code, data and development practices can influence media and to provide a platform to further study and more advanced creative production.
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate their understanding of key concepts, issues and debates related to computer programming and media;
2. Develop digital outputs using programming for purposes of research, communication, enterprise or entertainment;
3. Evaluate programming and data practices from the perspective of their technological, social and cultural impact;
4. Identify emergent trends, challenges and opportunities related to programming, data and digital media.
The module will cover topics such as:
• Basic procedural programming syntax and structure
• Object oriented programming
• Programming for the web
• Programming with data
• Programming for digital research
• Digital data collection, analysis and visualisation
• Ethical hacking and creative coding as research
• Professional programming practices
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-line Learning | 9 | 0.5 | 4.5 |
| Lecture | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Practical | 11 | 2 | 22 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 161.5 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 38.5 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Each weekly workshop task has an “extra work” section that is to be completed by students in their own time. This work is designed to take 1-3 hours depending upon student ability (a total of 33-99 hours), involves practice and experimentation with weekly content and critical analysis of the content in response to relevant reading and research. The tasks also develop further skills necessary to excel in the module assessment and encourage continued independent development and learning. Students are required to complete weekly individual tasks which are assessed (see below) and which build towards the final summative piece of coursework that will account for the rest of the independent study time.
Student progress will be monitored in weekly classes, weekly critical responses in blogs, and by their performance in the first assessment due in week 8.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Practical | Programming project (3000-4000 words equivalent) | 70 |
| Portfolio | Critical research blog: 8 x 400-500 words or equivalent (4/8 are selected for assessment) | 30 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Resits will simply be to redo the assessment tasks
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 6/4/2024
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team